Feed-grinding mechanism.



J. E. GOODHUE.

FEED GRINDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1915. 1,166,899, Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 JWSZG OOM,

Jaw

J. E. GOODHUE.

FEED GRINDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I9I5. 1 166 899 Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

4II.SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I J. E. GOODHUE.

FEED GRINDING MECHANISM.

AFPUCATION FILED JULY 6, I915.

' 1,166,899. I Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

EETSSHEET 3- Q5 J E. GOODHUE FEED GRINDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 191.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Jill/e 07", M5 Z6 OZAWQ fqyw a I JAMES E. GOODI-IUE, OF ST. CHABLESILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES WIND ENGINE & PUMP COMPANY, OFIBAT-AVIA,ILLINIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

rnnn enmnme MECHANISM.

Application filed July 6, 1915. Serial No. 38,153.

To all whom it may concern: 7 7

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. GOODHUE, a citizen of the United States,residingat St. Charles, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois,have invented a new and useful Feed-Grinding Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification. a

My invention relates to improvements in means for producing a mixture ofcorn-cob,

" corn, and fine grain, as for example, oats,

barley or spelts, suitable for feeding stock and poultry. Y v

It is important in producing feed mixtures that the several materialsofwhich the mixtures are composed, be properlyproportioned and intimatelyand uniformly mixed; and one of the objects of my invention is toprovide a comparatively simple and inexpensive construction of machinewhereby uniform mixtures of different substances in the desiredproportions maybe produced in a highly economic manner.

One of the most common forms of feed mixtures is composed of crushedcorn-cob, corn and other fine grain, and it is for the production of amixture including the above stated substances that I have moreparticularly devised my improvements, though it will be manifest fromthe following description that it may be utilized for the production ofother mixtures.

Referring to the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a view in frontelevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a view in front sectional elevation of the machine illustrated.

in Fig. 1,.the section being taken atthe line 2 on Fig. 3, and viewed inthe direction of the arrowf Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken at theline 3 on Fig.2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, portions ofthe machine being broken away. Fig.4- is a similar View taken at theline 4 on'Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is asection taken at the irregular line 55 on Fig. 1 and viewed inthedirection of the arrows; and Fig. 6 isaplan view of the aperturedcover device for the mixing throat of the machine through which finegrain is introduced into the latter.

The frame of the machine uponwhich the operative, parts hereinafterdescribed are supported, is represented at 7. Mounted on,

the frame 7 is a hollow casing 8, affording i the compartments orchambers hereinafter" with the corn and the cob. 1

The hopper 9 communicates atits lower discharge end with the upper endof a chamber 11,-provided in the casing 8, this chamber' containingmeans for engaging the ear corn and for removing the'kernels from thecob and crushing the cob preferably into pieces about the size ofkernels of corn. These means, in the particular machine illustrated,comprise a rotary, generally cylindrical, member 12, which extendslongitudi nally of the casing 11 and carries stub shafts 13 and 14 atwhich it is journaled in bearings 15 and 16, respectively, on the casing11. The member .12is provided at intervals about its periphery with ribs'17, forming breaker-bars, each presenting at its forward edge a"radially disposed surface 18. The bars 17 are provided in pairs, asshown, the

members of each pair being diametrically opposed and the several pairsof bars being so arranged about the member 12 as to present a generallyspiral arrangement ofthe surfaces 18, as illustrated. The breakers bars17 are adapted to cooperate with sta tionary breaker-bars 19 and- 20,the breakerbars 19 beingformed on the upper surface of'a casting21secured against thebottom wall of the chamber'll as by bolts 22,- thebars 19'being spaced apart fromcenter to center a distance equalsubstantially to the distance between the ribs 17 center to center, andso disposed that as the ribs17 are carried into a'position opposingthem, these ribs will intermesh with the ribs 19, as illustrated of therib 17, at the extreme end of the member 12 in'Fig. 2. The ribs whichcooperate with the breaker-bars 17 at the lefthand end of the member 12in Fig. 2, are located adjacent to an opening 23 in the bottom of thechamber 11 leading-'to a lower chamber or mixing-throathereinafterexplained, these bars being provided on 'a plate 24 securedto the inner surface of the rear wall of the chamber 11 as by bolts 25,one onlyv of which is. shown," these ribs which mesh with thecooperatingribs 17, as explained of the ribs 19, projecting forward,

specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 4, 1916,

together with the plate 24 on which they are carried, substantiallyhalfway across the opening 23. The ear corn entering the chamber 11 fromthe hopper 9 is engaged by the breaker-bars 17 and in the crushingoperation is caused, by reason of the generally spiral arrangement ofthe bars 17, to be moved or conveyed to the left, in Fig. 2, to theoutlet 23 of the chamber 11.

The casing 8, below the chamber 11, is provided with a chamber 27 whichextends lengthwise of the chamber-11, the righthand end of the chamber.27, in Fig. 2, communicating with the lefthand end of the chamber 11 inthis figure, through the medium of the opening 23, whereby the kernelsof corn and crushed cob are discharged from the chamber 11 into thechamber 27 for further treatment.

Journaled in bearings 28 and 29 in the casing 8, and extendinglongitudinally through the chamber 27, is a shaft 30, driven ashereinafter described. Carried by the shaft 30 torotate therewith, andlocated in the righthand end of the chamber 27 (Fig. 2) is a sleeve 31provided at intervals about its periphery with breaker-bars 32, whichpresent a generally spiral arrangement about the sleeve 31 andcotiperate with a series of ribs 33 spaced apart longitudinally of thechamber 27, these ribs being carried by a casting 34 bolted, orotherwise secured. to the inner surface of the front wall of the chamber27, as by bolts 35, and cooperating with the breaker-bars 32 forcrushing the particles of corn-cobs supplied to this chamber from thechamber 11, into particles about the side of the kernels of corn, thebars 32. by reason of the inclined position at which the extend aboutthe circumference of the sleeve 31, causing the corn and crushed cobs tobe conveyed from the righthand end of the chamber 27 in Fig. 2 towardthe lefthand end thereof.

Adjacent the sleeve 31 is a sleeve 36 which is located within theleft-hand end of the chamber 27. in Fig. 2. and is equipped withdiametrically opposed spirall disposed ribs 37, which operate to advancethe kernels of corn and crushed cobs to the left, in Fig.

2. and mix therewith thesmaller grains discharged into this portion ofthe chamber 27 which,'in effect, is a mixing-throat.

It is preferred that some'means be provided in the opening 23 wherebythe rate of fiow of the kernels of corn and crushed cob fromt'he'chamber 11 into the chamber 27 may be regulated. Any suitable formof mechanism may be provided for this purpose but it is preferred thatthat shown be employed, inasmuch as it permits of ,a delicate adjustmentof the feed into the chamber 27 without danger of interruption'ofevenness of flow. The valve mechanismshown comprises a slide 38containing a slot 39, through which a bolt 40, having a winged nut 41,

to be projected across the opening 23, is 7 inclined forwardly from itslefthand to its righthand edge in Fig. 5. Thus, by adjusting the slide38 back and forth at its slotted connection with the casing 8, the rateof flow of the material from the chamber 11 into the chamber 27 may beaccurately controlled.

The hopper 10 which is provided for supplying the small grain to thelefthand end of the chamber 27, which has been hereinbefore referredtoas the mixing-throat, and whichfor purposes of explanation is designated43, for mixture with the corn and crushed cob, is preferably provided atits lower outlet end with a shoe 44, secured at the upper end of itsrear wall to the rear side of the hopper-10, as indicated at 45, thematerial of which this shoe is formed, being such, in accordance withcommon practice, that the shoeis free to be vibrated, inasmuch as it is,in effect, flexibly supported. discharge opening of this hopper iscontrolled by a slide 46, preferably mounted on the forward wall of thelower end of the hopper 10, as .illustratedin Fig. 3, it being readilyunderstood that the slide '46 may be adjusted lengthwise for varying thearea of the discharge opening of this hopper. In order to maintain aconstant uniform feed from the hopper 10 means are provided forvibrating the shoe 44. The means shown are of a common construction andinvolve, generally stated, a bar 47, pivoted as indicated at 48, to the.shoe, and slidably mounted in ears 49 on a sleeve 50 journaled on aneccentric 51, secured tothe'stub-shaft 14, whereby when this shaft isrotated action of the eccentric -51 will effect vibration of the shoe44.. i

, In the operation of the machine the light grain, as-for example, oats,barleyor spelts, introduced into the hopper 10, is discharged into themixing-throat 43 while the material supplied thereto from the hopper 10is be ing comparatively violently agitated therein. Under-theseco'nditionsit is necessary that while a comparatively free opening intothe mixing-throat be provided for discharging the fine grain into thelatter, provision should be made for preventing the materials from beingthrown therefrom. Accordingto my invention, and as shown in theaccompanying drawings, I accomplish this purpose by providing a uniqueform of apertured cover for the mixing-throat, which according tothe'preferred embodiment ofmy invention, comprisesplates 52 and 53.disposed ingenerally parallel relation in a plane inclined to thehorizontal, these plates inclining downwardly from the left to the right(Fig. 3) or, in other words,

The I from the rear toward the front of the machine, there beingprovided between the forward edge of the plate 52 and the rear edge ofthe plate 53, which latter is preferably provided with a dependingflange 54, an inlet-opening 55 through which the material dischargedfrom the shoe 44 passes into the mixing-throat 43. At opposite ends ofthe plates 52 and 53 are substantially verr tically disposed sidewalls56, as illustrated in Fig. 6, these plates and walls being preferablyformed integrally with flanges 57, at which this cover-section may besecured in place on the frame 7 of the machine, as by bolts 58. Theforward edge of the plate 52 preferably projects forwardly of the centerof the shaft 30, and is preferably so disposed relative to the rear edgeof the plate 53 that the material in the mixingthroat under agitation bythe action of the mechanism therein cannot escape through the opening55, but will be intercepted by the plate 53 and fall back into themixing.

throat.

Located beyond the mixing-throat 43 are grinding-burs for grinding themixed corn, particles of cob, and the fine grain. These grinding-burs,which are of common construction, are represented at 59 and 60 and arein the form of apertured disks arranged in parallel relation andprovided on their opposed faces with radiating ribs 61. The disk 59 issecured at through the medium of screws 62, to the end of the casing 8,the aperture therein being of substantially the same size as thecross-sectional area of the mixin -throat 43, and positioned to extendconcentric with the shaft 30. The disk 60 is of similar construction andis mounted on a flanged sleeve 63 secured to the shaft 30. It isdesirable that means be provided for adjusting the disks 59 and 60toward and away from each other for varying the fineness of the materialground thereby, a desirable form of construction for this purpose beingas follows:

The shaft 30 is mounted in its bearings to slide lengthwise therein andis provided, between the sleeve 31 and the bearing 28, with a coilspring 64, which encircles the shaft, bearing at one end against asleeve 65 on the latter and at its opposite end against the shoulder ofa member 66, whereby there is a constant tendency of the shaft 30 toslide in its bearings to the left, in Fig. 2. Adjacent to the oppositeend of the shaft the casing 8 is provided with a yoke 67, (Fig. 1) inwhich a box 68 is mounted to slide lengthwise of the shaft 30, thisshaft projecting through an end wall of the box 69 and against apartition 70 therein. The

cross-piece of the yoke 67 contains a thread ed opening 71, in which anadjusting screw 72 operates, this screw being adapted to bear at one endagainst the outer end wall 73 of the box 68, and equip ed at itsopposite end with a toothed wheel 74, coiiperating with a dog 75 forholding the screw 72 in adjusted position. The construction justdescribed is one which is in common use and, therefore, the generaldescription above given will suffice. It will be understood from theforegoing that by adjusting the screw 72 in: war'dly it will force thebox 68 and consequently the shaft 30, to the right in Fig. 2, againstthe action of the spring 64,- and when the adjusting screw is drawnoutwardly the spring 64 automatically operates to shift the shaft 30 tothe left a corresponding distance. Thus, by the arrangement describedthe distance-between the disks 59 and 60 may be adjusted to a nicety.

The shafts l3 and 14, with the member 12, and the shaft 30, may bedriven in any suitablemanner, it being preferred that the shaft 30 bedriven at a much greater speed than the other of-said rotating parts. Inthe arrangement illustrated, the shaft. 30 carries a pulley 76, whichmay be belted to any suitable power device, the shafts 13 and 14, andmember 12, being driven from the shaft 30 through the medium of thepinion 77 fixed on the shaft 30, and a gear 78 fixed on the shaft 13.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The ears of corn are dumpedinto the hopper 9, and the small grain, as for eX- ample, oats, barleyor spelts, is dumped into the hopper 10. Assuming the shafts 13, 14 and30 to be in operation, the co-action be tween the breaker-bars 17 andthe breakerbars 19 and 20 causes the kernels to be broken off of thecobs. and the cobs to be broken up into relatively fine pieces in thechamber 11, the spiral arrangement of the breaker-bars 17, causing thematerial in this chamber to be gradually moved along into registrationwith the outlet 23, through which these particles drop into therighthand end of the chamber 27, where it is operated on by thebreaker-bars 32, cotiperating with the ribs 33 in this chamber forreducingthe cobs to particles about the size of kernels of corn. Thekernels and particles of cob are moved in the chamber 27 to the left, inFig. 2, where they engage the spiral ribs 37, thus agitating and mixingthe materials before passing to the grinding burs and carrying themthrough the mixing-throat 43. The material in the hopper 10 is caused,by the action of the shoe 44, as hereinbefore described, to be graduallyfed through the opening 55 into the mixing-throat 43, where it becomesintimately mixed with the kernels and particles of cobs in apredetermined proportion, depending upon the adjustment of the slide 38and the slide 46. The mixture is thence car ried into the space betweenthe grinding disks 59 and 60, where it is ground to a predeterminedfineness, the ground mixture discharging from the space between thesedisks at the outer peripheries of the latter, and into a hollow portion79 of the casing 8, from which it discharges through an opening 80 inthe bottom of said casing.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the operation of themachine is continuous, the several materials feeding into themixing-throat 4:3 in the proper proportions. I

lVhile I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of myinvention 1 do not wish to be understood as intending to limit itthereto, as the same may be variously modified and altered withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of achamber, and rotary means for agitating the material supplied to saidchamber and tending to throw the material out of the chamber in adirection radially of said rotating means, the top wall of said chamberpresenting offset plate sections,

affording between their adjacent ends an opening disposed tangentiallyto said rotary means and at one side of the center of sa1d rotary meansand forming an inlet to said chamber, one of said plate-sectionsinclining downwardly from one side of said chamber to said opening anddirectly above said means.

2. In a machine of the character set forth,

the combination of a chamber for receiving 3 reduce them to particlesabout the size oi kernels of corn, means for agitating the corn andparticles of cob, and means for intro said second-named chamber foriurther breaking up the cobs to ducing smaller grain into the mixture ofas corn and cobs during agitation of the latter by said agitating means,for the purpose set forth.

JAMES E. GOODHUE. l/Vitnesses:

A. C. FISCHER, K. ONEILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

